COMMENTS:Some current mining at the site. One of
the biggest tailing piles in the state.Take I-10 Rillito Exit 242 (Avra
Valley Road) or via Red Rock - Exit 226 or via Marana - Exit 236. Via Rillito:
Drive 23 miles to the west to The Silver Bell mine and continue to Silverbell.
After pavement ends drive 5,8 miles to west. After 5,8 miles take road to
northwest. Possible to pass with 2WD but 4WD is the best. REMAINS: Many
mining structures and foundations among new structures. UPDATE 6/22/98 :old
Silverbell has been destroyed by ASARCO and its vicinity now sits way behind
their fence. The only thing that can be visited is an old cemetery, about
2 miles West of the townsite, probably because there may still be some living
descendants. If not, ASARCO would have fenced that, too. Steve Meiller

Silverbells's post office was established August
18, 1904 and has not been discontinued. Copper was the mainstay (and still
it) for Silverbell. Discovered in the early 1860's, ore is still being
produced. Three thousand people flocked to Silverbell in its heyday and
Silverbell was one of the most renowned mining camps in the southwest.
Described once as the "hell-hole: of Arizona, Silverbell was home
to many lawless acts. Just days Before Deputy Sam McEvan arrived to his
new job, three murders had been committed. 1911 marked the beginning of
the downfall for Silverbell and in 1948, the new town of Silverbell was
born.

Silverbell began growing in 1902 after E.B. Gage and W. F. Staunton together
with Develop-ment Company of America started exploiting mining rights.
Post office opened in 1904 and Wells Fargo station opened in 1906. Progress
was going to 1911 when the fire in mine and financial problems stopped
work. Work in the mine continued by American Smelting & Refining Com-pany
from 1915 to 1921 when the lower prices made work non rentable. 13 miles
of dirt road between Silverbell and Sasco is a nice trip. The road is
original part of "Arizona Southern Railroad" built in 1904 for transportation
of ore from mines in Silverbell to smelter in Sasco. The track were taken
off in 1934. No problem for 2WD. Submitted by: Bobby Krause Zlatevski